Here I am, harvesting wild rice. It’s not a duck blind, but it’ll do.
By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September, 2023 Newsletter edition.
As I write this, we are seven days into the teal and early goose seasons, yet I haven’t been into the marsh or field with waterfowling intent. Even though I block these precious days off in a calendar appointment that recurs each year. And I’ve had the frequently painful, and religiously annual discussion with my wife not to schedule anything for this time of year. What conspiracy is afoot to deprive me of these moments afield?
The good news is, I suppose, that even though I’m not getting afield as I had hoped, it feels like I’m prioritizing my time appropriately, given all that WWA is up to nowadays.
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2023 EXPO
Just before the season, we hosted the 3rd waterfowlers EXPO and I hope that you were able to attend – it was phenomenal with over 5,000 visitors experiencing “all things waterfowling”. If you are into data, check out the article on “EXPO by the numbers”
- Cleaning up from that experience included reaching out to 155 volunteers who made the EXPO happen, and the 133 exhibitors who filled 195 booths seemed like a high order use of my time.
- Discussion with legislative staff on the possibility of a sandhill crane season chewed up a little of my season.
- Our struggle with the state’s bureaucracy of charitable gaming is heating up and sucked some of the oxygen out of my early season hopes.
- Hiring yet another wetlands ecologist to work on public land seemed a little more important than collecting my first teal of the season.
- And certainly, helping to start WWA’s volunteer rice harvest program HAD to happen when the rice was ready to be harvested—like just a day or two ago.
And now my editor (Kelcy) is reminding me that if we don’t get out the September newsletter pronto, we might as well label it the October newsletter.
What’s an erstwhile waterfowler to do?
Could be worse I suppose. WWA Director Dave Elwing’s surgeon gave him a pretty good (or maybe, bad) excuse. Dave’s gun shoulder rotator cuff demands surgery today, putting him on the injured reserve list for the ’23 season. While I can still have high hopes for the regular season in a month, Dave has to look forward to 2024 for his hunting fix (sorry Dave!). But best wishes for a successful procedure and a quick recovery that will set the table for a great return in the fall of 2024. Just make sure you block those dates off on your calendar.
See you in the Marsh (maybe),
Bruce